For many people, however, the wait in line was shorter than during November.

Monday was the first day that food stamp recipients could get their December allocations.

Lines started forming before sunrise, but unlike last month, when some recipients got unruly after waiting for hours, the process was more orderly.

In response to November`s problems, the state Health and Rehabilitative Services Department extended office hours and added cashiers, to ease the frustration.

``We did not say the lines would disappear,`` said Patricia Jolly, program operations administrator at the office in Plantation, which serves Central Broward customers. ``I think what we did this time was have a better plan.``

About 300 people were lined up in Plantation when the office was set to open at 7:30 a.m. Even with a late delivery of stamps, some people said the wait was two to three hours, compared with as long as six hours in November.

In Hollywood, where food stamps were issued at a new HRS office on Sheridan Street, people waited indoors, and by 11 a.m., the wait for stamps was reduced to about a half-hour.

``I can`t believe how quick this is,`` said Shoushig Brown, 41, of Davie, who has received food stamps for about five months since being laid off. ``It just seems more organized.``

The offices in Plantation, Hollywood and Pompano Beach are now staying open an extra two hours during the first 12 work days of the month. People in line are also being issued numbers to prevent cutting.

Officials noted that this was only the first day of food stamp distribution for the month. As the month wears on, the lines could get longer as more recipients become eligible to pick up their stamps.

The lines have been growing because of an increasing demand for the stamps. Although the lines moved faster on Monday, some recipients said there also seemed to be more people waiting than in November.

Two years ago, 12,000 Broward households were getting stamps. This year, the number is 32,000, and by the summer, that may reach 39,000, HRS officials said.

One reason for the larger crowds is mounting unemployment. State statistics indicate unemployment in Broward hit 7.4 percent in October of this year, with almost 50,000 people out of work. In October 1990, the rate was 5.8 percent, with 39,156 people unable to find work. Unemployment compensation claims are also on the rise. The U.S. Department of Labor reported 84,196 new claims in Florida from the week ending on Oct. 5 to the week ending on Nov. 16. During the same period last year, the number of initial claims was 74,594.

Like at the food stamp offices, long lines formed on Monday at the Unemployment Compensation Claims Office in Fort Lauderdale. Usually, the wait for service there is an hour, officials said. Monday afternoon, it was at least three hours.

The office was closed on Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, office manager Rebecca Cavanaugh said. She said people are also coming in to seek extensions of unemployment benefits.

Last month, President Bush authorized an additional 13 weeks of payments.